FBI serves search warrant on BISD, finance director

Unmarked FBI vehicles were at the Beaumont Independent School District administration building and the home of the school district's finance director, Devin McCraney, the morning of Thursday, Nov.7. Investigators had been to the home of BISD Superintendent Dr. Timothy Chargois earlier in the morning to inform him of the warrant service.

The BISD administration building ejected visitors to the school district's main office, saying that administrators would not be taking meetings from the general public. BISD employees working in the administration building were moved to the attached boardroom as FBI agents collected boxes of material to remove from the building. A large group of teachers and staff was gathered in the administration cafeteria throughout much of the morning, unable to return to their offices while FBI agents searched the facility.

BISD spokesman Ron Reynolds said he was one of many staff who were unable to return to their offices before they were sent to lunch. Teachers and other staff said little to reporters as they left through an entrance not covered by the media.

A source at the BISD administration building said the U.S. Department of Education was onsite, as well.

The FBI stayed at McCraney’s home until shortly after 9:30 a.m., spending more than an hour on the premises. McCraney paced outside on the phone while investigators rummaged through his new Denali with the license tag SPOYLD. Multiple FBI agents also search the inside of his residence, removing more than three boxes of confiscated good upon their departure.

According to BISD Communications Specialist Nakisha Myles, “The district is working with the US Attorney's Office regarding allegations that someone set up bogus accounts and diverted district funds. It is the district's intent to fully investigate and provide information to the FBI. No further comments or statements will be released regarding this matter until the investigation is complete.”

The Examiner first reported on McCraney in July of this year, when it was revealed that the BISD money man had made more than $100,000 worth of improvements to his home, paying cash to an unknown contractor for the worked performed while at the same time skirting city of Beaumont building codes. He was subsequently forced to tear down a large portion of his newly renovate home and ordered to pay fines by the city of Beaumont.

For PDFs of The Examiner's earlier coverage of BISD finance director Devin McCraney, sign in and then click the link in the story above.

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